Kit apron



H. S. WALLACE KIT APRON Filed July 22, 1942 Patented Dec. 5, 1944 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE KIT APRON Hugh Stanley Wallace, Ingram, Pa.

Application July 22, 1942, Serial No. 451,980

1 Claim.

This invention relates generally to apparel and more particularly toakit apron or garment protector, and the method of making and foldingthe same. I

This apron may be advantageously used as a kit to contain tools orsupply units for workmen, and it is particularly useful as a first aidcasualty kit for storing, carrying and dispensing bandages, antiseptics,surgical implements and supplies.

The principal object of this invention is "the provision of anapronwhich is convenient for storing, carrying and dispensing the supplies ofworkmen.

Another object is in the method of constructing the apron and thepockets sewed thereon.

' Another object is inthe method of folding the apron into kit form sothat the neck strap serves as a carrying handle.

Another object is the provision ofia case for.

Fig. 3 is a view illustrating the second step of folding the apron byturning down the top portion thereof.

Fig. 4 is a view illustrating the third step of folding the apron byturning in one side thereof.

Fig. 5 is a view illustrating the kit apron completely folded and tied.

Fig. 6 is a View illustrating the apron enclosed in a container or case.

Referring to the drawing, the apron I0 may be made up of any suitablefabric, such as canvas, denim, white duck, celanese, rubberized-cloth, rother waterproof protective materials. The latter material may beimpervious to poison gas and thus provide an extra protection tomaterials contained in the kit.

The apron has a skirt portion II and a bib portion I2. The sides .of thebib portion are preferably arcuately cut on the bias, as indicated atl3, to fit the person of the wearer in front of the arms. A neck strapI4 is secured at its ends to the top of the bib l2. This neck strap alsoserves as a handle which is described hereinafter.

A chest band 15 and a belly band l6 may be secured to the back of theapron to reinforce the fabric at the neck and the waist line. The chestband'encloses a stiffener such as a piece of light flexible metal, wood,bone or the like to keep the ends of the neck strap 14 in spacedrelation. Right and leftapron strings l1 and I8 are secured to'the upperportion of the skirt I l on or adjacent to the ends of the belly band16. i

The apron is preferably provided with two rows of patch pockets 20 and2|; The upper row of pockets 20 is secured to bib 12 and may extend tothe bottom of the belly band It. The lower row of. pockets 2| is securedto the skirt ll of the apron and extend upwardly from the bottom of theskirt with their mouths or openings spaced from the upper row ofpockets- Two pockets are shown in the upper row and three are shown inthe lower row. The pockets in the lower row are preferably larger thanthe pockets in the upperrow. It will be noted that the intermediatepocket in the lower row is substantially the same width as both of thepockets in the upper row and also the top of the bib.

Each row of pockets is formed'from a single piece of material. Thisvmaterial is folded at the center .of each pocket. into opposingvertical, pleats 22 which are sewed along the top of the material, asindicated at 23. The material is then sewed along both sides 24 andalong the bottom 25 to the apron. The material is also sewed to theapron intermediate of the pleats, as indicated at 26, to form theindividual pockets in each row. Thus the material at the mouth oropening of each pocket is made taut across the front by the stitching 23but the pockets may expand intermediate the top and bottom thereof dueto the vertical pleats 22, as indicated in Fig. 1.

Small open bottom loops or pockets 2'! may be provided on the upper rowof pockets for carrying pencils, thermometers, scissors, scalpel or .thelike.

When the apron is properly folded it becomes a kit that is easily storedor carried. The first step in folding the apron is illustrated in Fig. 2wherein the skirt is folded along a medial line between the two rows ofpockets with the pockets on the skirt H covering the pockets on the bibi2.

The neck strap l4 and the upper portion of the bib [2 are then foldeddown over the back of the skirt H, as shown in Fig. 3, forming arectangular pack. The left side of the apron is then folded over the topof the bib l2, as illustrated in Fig. 4. A ring 28 or other suitablecatch member is secured to the back of the skirt to threadably receivethe apron string [8. The right side of the ap on is then folded over theleft side enclosing the string 18 as shown in Fig. 5. A second ring 29is secured to the back of the apron on the left side in the vicinity ofthe belly band I6, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Either apron string may bethreaded through this ring to permit them to encircle the kit inopposite directions so that they may be tied, as indicated in Fig. 5.

In folding the apron in thirds it is possible to retain the neck strap14 in the center .of .thepack. Thus when it is used as a carrying handleit supports the kit from the center of the load. The folding of theapron in thirds also demonstrates the advantage of having three pocketsin the lower row and two smaller pockets in ithe 1 upper row which arsubstantially the same width as the center pocket in the lower row. Thuswhen foldedin kit form the :two small pockets and the intermediatepocket are on .one side of the neck strap and the two outerpocke'ts ofthe lower row are 'on the other :side, which balancesthe kit and thetopaof the bib-is'placed approximately at the (center of gravity of theload.

.A closuremember-or baglflll having theigeneral shape of the "foldedikitwhen loaded-witn-supplies may be provided to receive the kit, asillustrated in Fig. 6. A flap 31 is provided on'thebag and may be:folded through :the neck strap and 'secured :to the front by'thexsnapsshown zit-32 to completely enclose the kit, keepingt'it dry :and clean.A 'stifiening member 33,-such-asa light piece of flexible metal, wood,bone :orthe like may be sewed or 'otherwise secured across the under'-.side of'thetflap 3| to retain :the shape-of the top of the bag,pausing the nack strap to extend laterally at either .side from :theifiap "to provide a complete enclosure :of i'therkit, keeping ltire'etrom dust Fand'moisture. This rein'ioreing member can be supplied withhooks or Isn aps -84 ior'se'curing the enclosedkltto'a 'flBIdISGIViOI-l"belt o'r the like. When used in thisimannertthehandie or neck strap l4may be packed rtemporarily within the bag.

'When the apron is properly fitted out with supplies such as thatrequired by "a doctor or first aid workerand is'folded as *shown anddescribed, the kit naturally assumes bulk and weight. When carried bythe handle or neck strap the weight of the kit suspended from the top ofthe "bib pulls the "folds tighter, thereby drawingthe mouths of thepockets'more closely shut preventing the contents from spillingtherefrom. It will be noted that each fold increases the sealing effect01' the pocket openings and when the strings are tied tightly the bellyband is drawn taut, further insuring closure of the pockets. When thewearer unties the kit and inserts the head through the neck strap, theapron will fall to its open position without spilling any of thecontents from the pockets. This isadvantageous because-fliekitapronlendsitself to vquick application when .needed.

I claim:

A kit apron to be folded and carried while filled with articles, andcomprising a skirt, open-top pockets carried by the center and sideportions 10:: the skirt, .a bib extending from the skirt, a

neck loop secured at its ends to the top of the bib,- said-en"ds alignedsubstantially with the side edges -.of the center pocket of the skirt,at least one open-top pocket carried by the bib and spaced upwardlyftromthe center pocket of the skirt and-centered relatively theretogthedistance from (the .top ut 'theapocket on the bib to the top of theockets on the skirt being substantially the :same "the distance :iromthe top of the pockets 'on athe skirt to the bottom of the skirt, atiesecured to each :side oi'the skirt, said skirt being foldedup on re linecoincidentwith the'top of the pockets on the skirt against :the front ofthe bib to close thefskirt pockets, the upperportionoi the bibbeingifoldeddownon a line coincident-with the top oi'the pocket on thebib over the back of the skirt to close the bib pocket, withthe'neckxloop extending beyond'the'fold oi the skirt, and 'the :sides oithe skirt carrying the outer'skirttpocketsbeing-folded cne'on the otherover theneckioop and the center portion oi the skirt, the side pocketsof the skirt "beingpcsitioned'on zthe opposite side of theneck loop fromthe center pocket otthe skirt and the pocket of the bib to balance thekit, each '01 the spaced sides of the neck loop extending from thecenter of ;the kit being 'adja'centthe line of one of the last mentionedfolds-guidemeanson the back-of theiskirtitor the tie of the inner or thetwo folded sides oftheiskirt to prevent displacement of the latter, andthe ties encircling the "kit and secured to prevent unfolding of thelatter, the weight of the 'articleszin the pockets of the'kitin'creasing the 'compactness of the kit when carried 'by the neckloop.

HUGH -WALLACE.

